Lanterns



July 2, 1963 B. BERGE 3,096,029

LANTERNS Filed March 1, 1960 B,fi-%,Z Patented July 2, 1953 F EQQ 3,096,029 LANTERNS Birger Barge, Sodertalje, Sweden, assignor to El-Be Elektriska Aktiebolag, Sodertalje, Sweden, a joint stock company of Sweden Filed Mar. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 12,018 Claims priority, application Sweden Mar. 5, 1959 3 Claims. (Cl. 240-25) This invention relates to lanterns or similar lamp fixtures intended for high mounting such as on lamp-posts or on 'wires and particularly useful for illuminating streets, open outdoor places, sport fields and the like. For several reasons it has been found advantageous to make such lanterns or lamp fixtures spoolor troughshaped and to mount them horizontally or in a slightly inclined position, and most frequently they are provided with luminous discharge lamps, such as mercury or sodium lamps, though they may also be fitted with ordinary incandescent electric lamps.

Ordinarily, such lamp fixtures comprise an upper, stationary reflector having more or less the shape of an inverted chute or trough and a lower protective cover or shade of some transparent material, preferably plastic, which closes the reflector, and in order to obtain the smallest possible depth of the lamp fixture so designed and also a satisfactory light distribution therefrom it has been suggested already to mount the lamp holder in the fixture in such a manner that the lamp proper assumes a lying or slightly inclined position with its longitudinal axis coinciding with that of the lamp fixture itself. However, if no special steps are taken, it meets with several difficulties to exchange the lamps of such fixtures or lanterns.

For this reason it has also been suggested to mount the lamp holder of such lamp fixtures on hinges or pivots so that it will normally hold the lamp in said lying or inclined position but may be swung down, for instance by means of a tool attached to the end of a rod, to bring the lamp in such a substantially vertical, headdown position that it can be easily exchanged from the ground by means of a suitable rod-mounted lamp exchange tool.

Hither-to known types of lamp fixtures having such a swingable lamp holder, which is usually combined with the lower protective cover of the fixture, are, however, suffering from certain drawbacks. Thus it often happens that the lamp holder together with the protective cover swings down unintentionally because the snap catch or other mechanism holding them in swing-up position has become defective.

in such cases it may occur, especially in heavy wind, that the lamp holder is swung down so violently that the lamp and even the fixture itself suffer damage. Furthermore it may be rather diificult to swing down the lamp holder and cover in a fully controlled manner from the ground, since this operation has to be carried out by means of long rods or the like. Also the closing of the fixture, i.e. the returning of the lamp holder and cover to swung up position, may frequently be so inconvenient and difficult that the lamp is subjected to undesired shocks.

This invention has for its main object to provide a lamp fixture of the type described in which the said inconveniences are eliminated. Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description.

The main feature of the invention is that the lamp holder as well as the parts of the fixture connected thereto, such as a protective cover for the lamp, are substantially balanced about their pivots, at least when the lamp holder is close to its normal, swung-up position. Snap catches and springs may, of course, be used also in this case to retain the lamp holder in the swung-up position.

For elucidating the invention a preferred form of a lantern embodying the same has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 shows a lamp post with a lamp fixture according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the lamp fixture proper, and

FIG. 3 is an end view of the fixture as seen from the line IIIIII in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 1 the pillar or post is designated by the numeral 1. The upper part of the post is bent in over the ground area to be illuminated and carries at its outer end the lamp fixture or lantern 2, which assumes a slightly inclined position. The lamp fixture 2 has a softly rounded, elongate shape and comprises an upper part, mostly of light metal casting, formed like an inverted trough and constituting a reflector for an electric lamp 3, which is enclosed in the fixture. The downwardly directed elongate opening of the trough is normally closed by a protective cover 4 of transparent plastic or similar material or of Wire lattice.

As will appear clearly from FIG. 2 the protective bottom cover 4 is pivoted about pins 5 near its one end to the upper part of the fixture 2 and can thus be swung down into a substantially vertical position as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Secured to the protective cover 4 is a reflector shield 6, which also serves as support for a lamp holder 7, in which the electric lamp 3 is detachably fitted. Of course a bayonet mount as well as a threaded mount may be used for this purpose.

As will appear from the drawing the lamp holder 7 is so arranged that the lamp 3 will normally, i.e. when the protective cover 4 is closing the opening of the troughlike upper part of the fixture, assume a slightly inclined position. By swinging down the protective cover 4 and thus also the lamp holder 7 about the pins '5 the lamp 3 can be brought into a substantially vertical position as indicated by dash-and-dot lines, in which position the lamp 3 can easily be exchanged by means of a lamp exchange tool 8, for instance a kind of rubber funnel or cup that is fitted on the end of a long nod 9.

To facilitate directing the tool 8 when pushing it over the lamp 3 the outer end of the protective cover 4 is provided with a bifurcated member 10, between the protruding shanks of which the rod 9 may be guided. The member 10 also serves as a snap catch together with a projection 11 on the outer end of the upper part of the fixture 2 in order to retain the protective cover in its closed position. Of course, the member 10 also facilitates opening of the fixture 2 from the ground since it may be easily catched by the lamp exchange tool.

In the embodiment shown the electric lamp 3 is as sumed to be -a gas discharge lamp, the proper function of which necessitates the use of a reactance coil 1-2, which is well known to have a considerable weight. This coil is also mounted on the swinga-ble protective cover 4 in such a manner that its weight will practically counterbalance the lamp socket 7, the lamp 3 and the protective cover 4 when the lamp and protective cover are in the swung-up position or near this position. In this manner all sudden or violent movements of the unit swinging about the pins 5 are avoided, and consequently the risk for unintentional damaging of the fixture as well as of the lamp proper is eliminated.

Furthermore, the reactance coil 12 is so placed relative to the lamp 3 and the protective cover 4 that the said swingable unit presents a common centre of gravity C, which normally, i.e. in or near the swung-up position of the unit, will be situated somewhat above the pivot pins 5 but in the swung-down position of the unit will become offset to the right therefrom so that the weight of the reactance coil will partake in stabilizing the swung-down position of the unit. This arrangement ensures, completely independent of other means, smooth movements of the swingable unit and such a stabilization of the same that the lamp can be easily exchanged. A further stabilization of the swung-down position may be obtained by means of a spring 13, which is so arranged that it urges the protective cover towards its closed position with a very small power when the cover 4 is near its swung-up position, and also shifts its location relative to the pivot axis through the pins 5 when the protective cover is near its swungdown position so as to then urge the cover 4 toward its completely swung-down position in which it comes to rest against a suitable abutment (not shown). Obviously only a very weak spring 13 will be needed thanks to the described weight balancing of the swingable unit, and a weak spring will not cause any vigorous swinging or other vigorous moving of the lamp holder and lamp.

In case the fixture is provided with a usual incandescent lamp instead of a gas discharge lamp so that no reactance coil is needed, the balancing of the swingable unit can of course be obtained by the other means or simply by cating the pivot pins 5 in suitable points. Thus, the invention should not be confined to the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described.

I claim:

1. In a luminaire of the type intended to be mounted high above the ground and to have its lamp exchanged from the ground by means of a rod-mounted tool; the combination of:

A. An upper stationary housing in the form of an elongated inverted trough mounted with its longitudinal axis at a substantial angle from the vertical and having an opening at the bottom thereof;

B. a lamp holder assembly having a predetermned center of gravity and including a. a lamp socket mounted in the assembly receiving the base of an electric lamp, and

b. a closure extending in opposite directions beyond said center of gravity and having a periphery with a configuration corresponding to that of said opening of the housing;

C. pivot means mounting said lamp holder assembly on said housing and defining a pivoting axis for the assembly, which pivoting axis extends transversely with respect to said longitudinal axis of the housing and is disposed intermediate the ends of both said housing and closure, said lamp holder assembly being swingable relative to said housing about said pivoting axis between a. a swung-up operative position in which said socket and lamp are disposed in said housing and arranged substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of the latter with said periphery of the closure engaging said housing around said opening at the bottom thereof, and in which said center of gravity of the lamp holder assembly is located above said pivoting axis and substantially close to a vertical plane passing through said pivoting axis, thereby to avoid abrupt uninten- 4 tional downward swinging of said lamp holder assembly from said operative position, and b. a swung-down, lamp exchange position in which said periphery of the closure lies substantially in a vertical plane and in which the lamp is suspended below the socket so as to be easily exchangeable from the ground by a rod-mounted tool, and said center of gravity of the lamp holder assembly is spaced radially to one side of said pivoting axis in order to stabilize the lamp holder assembly in said lamp exchange position;

and a D. a tension spring connected, at its opposite ends, to points on said housing and lamp holder assembly, respectively,

a. the operative position of said lamp holder assembly having the line of force of said spring disposed to said one side of said pivotaxis, the lamp exchange position having the line of force of said spring disposed to the opposite side of the pivot axis, and

b. the distance between said points of connection of the spring increasing to increase the tension of said spring during swinging movement of said 7 lamp holder assembly from said operative position to said lamp exchange position, whereby said spring normally yieldably maintains the lamp holder assembly in said swung-up operative position and further stabilizes said assembly in said swung-down lamp exchange position when said assembly is positively displaced to the latter position.

2. In a luminaire, the combination as in claim 1;

wherein said lamp holder assembly further includes a reactance coil electrically connected to said lamp socket, said lamp socket and reactance coil being substantially disposed at opposite sides of said pivoting axis when said lamp holdef assembly is in said swung-up operative position.

3. In a luminaire, the combination as in claim '1; further comprising latch means to releasably retain said lamp holder assembly in said swung-up operative position and including a latch member projecting from the end of said closure which is lowermost in said swung-down position, said latch member having a bifurcated end extending generally horizontally from said end of the closure when in said swung-down position to receive and guide a rod mounting the tool by which the lamp is to be exchanged.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 762,741 Moos June 14, 1904 1,243,239 Albrechtsen Oct. 16, 1917 1,971,757 Nerem Aug. 28, 1934 2,140,855 Scott Dec. 20, 193-8 2,564,328 Farrington Aug. 14, 1951 2,798,941 Van Dusen July 9, 1957 2,836,709 Van Dusen May 27, 1958 2,840,690 Harling June 24, 1958 2,921,182 Taylor Jan. 12, 1969' 

1. IN A LUMINAIRE OF THE TAPE INTENDED TO BE MOUNTED HIGH ABOVE THE GROUND AND TO HAVE ITS LAMP EXCHANGED FROM THE GROUND BY MEANS OF A ROD-MOUNTED TOOL; THE COMBINATION OF: A. AN UPPER STATIONARY HOUSING IN THE FORM OF AN ELONGATED INVERTED TROUGH MOUNTED WITH ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS AT A SUBSTANTIAL ANGLE FROM THE VERTICAL AND HAVING AN OPENING AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF; B. A LAMP HOLDER ASSEMBLY HAVING A PREDETERMINED CENTER OF GRAVITY AND INCLUDING A. A LAMP SOCKET MOUNTED IN THE ASSEMBLY RECEIVING THE BASE OF AN ELECTRIC LAMP, AND B. A CLOSURE EXTENDING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS BEYOND SAID CENTER OF GRAVITY AND HAVING A PERIPHERY WITH A CONFIGURATION CORRESPONDING TO THAT OF SAID OPENING OF THE HOUSING; C. PIVOT MEANS MOUNTING SAID LAMP HOLDER ASSEMBLY ON SAID HOUSING AND DEFINING A PIVOTING AXIS FOR THE ASSEMBLY, WHICH PIVOTING AXIS EXTENDS TRANSVERSELY WITH RESPECT TO SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE HOUSING AND IS DISPOSED INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF BOTH SAID HOUSING AND CLOSURE, SAID LAMP HOLDER ASSEMBLY BEING SWINGABLE RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING ABOUT SAID PIVOTING AXIS BETWEEN A. A SWUNG-UP OPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH SAID SOCKET AND LAMP ARE DISPOSED IN SAID HOUSING AND ARRANGED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE LATTER WITH SAID PERIPHERY OF THE CLOSURE ENGAGING SAID HOUSING AROUND SAID OPENING AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF, AND IN WHICH SAID CENTER OF GRAVITY OF THE LAMP HOLDER ASSEMBLY IS LOCATED ABOVE SAID PIVOTING AXIS AND SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSE TO A VERTICAL PLANE PASSING THROUGH SAID PIVOTING AXIS, THEREBY TO AVOID ABRUPT UNINTENTIONAL DOWNWARD SWINGING OF SAID LAMP HOLDER ASSEMBLY FROM SAID OPERATIVE POSITION, AND B. A SWUNG-DOWN, LAMP EXCHANGE POSITION IN WHICH SAID PERIPHERY OF THE CLOSURE LIES SUBSTANTIALLY IN A VERTICAL PLANE AND IN WHICH THE LAMP IS SUSPENDED BELOW THE SOCKET SO AS TO BE EASILY EXCHANGEABLE FROM THE GROUND BY A ROD-MOUNTED TOOL, AND SAID CENTER OF GRAVITY OF THE LAMP HOLDER ASSEMBLY IS SPACED RADIALLY TO ONE SIDE OF SAID PIVOTING AXIS IN ORDER TO STABILIZE THE LAMP HOLDER ASSEMBLY IN SAID LAMP EXCHANGER POSITION; AND D. A TENSION SPRING CONNECTED, AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS, TO POINTS ON SAID HOUSING AND LAMP HOLDER ASSEMBLY, RESPECTIVELY. A. THE OPERATIVE POSITION OF SAID LAMP HOLDER ASSEMBLY HAVING THE LINE OF FORCE OF SAID SPRING DISPOSED TO SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID PIVOT AXIS, THE LAMP EXCHANGE POSIRION HAVING THE LINE OF FORCE OF SAID SPRING DISPOSED TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE PIVOT AXIS, AND B. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID POINTS OF CONNECTION OF THE SPRING INCREASING TO INCREASE THE TENSION OF SAID SPRING DURING SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID LAMP HOLDER ASSEMBLY FROM SAID OPERATIVE POSITION TO SAID LAMP EXCHANGE POSITION, WHEREBY SAID SPRING NORMALLY YIELDABLY MAINTAINS THE LAMP HOLDER ASSEMBLY IN SAID SWUNG-UP OPERTIVE POSITION AND FURTHER STABILIZES SAID ASSEMBLY IN SAID SWUNG-DOWN LAMP EXCHANGE POSITION WHEN SAID ASSEMBLY IS POSITIVELY DISPLACED TO THE LATTER POSITION. 